ANOTHER NEEDLESS ACT OF SELF-SABOTAGE FROM THE CELTIC BOARD
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
A wise man, I believe it was Mr. Miyagi, once said: “There’s no such thing as a bad student, only a bad teacher.”
In other words, when you’re in a position of leadership, you need to lead by example.
Well, unfortunately the great Pat Morita is no longer with us, but I think the character he made famous would probably have a word or two for the Celtic board after their latest act of self-inflicted folly.
Celtic Board Extends Fan Media Ban, Includes Both Men’s and Women’s Teams
There was hope that Celtic would see sense, and that last Friday’s blanket ban of fan media from Wilfried Nancy’s first press conference would prove to be a one-off.
I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that it was done with the totally misguided, yet honest intention of shielding the new manager from the current atmosphere of animosity between the Celtic Board and Celtic supporters’ representatives.
Yet, in an action more befitting of the villainous Cobra Kai Karate School than anything Mr. Miyagi ever taught, Celtic have doubled down, at a time when the smart thing to do would have been to cut their losses.
Not only are fan media no longer welcome at the post-match press conference for tonight’s game against AS Roma, they’ve also had access withdrawn from the media conferences relating to the Celtic Women’s team as well.
Meanwhile, the Daily Record, who ran one of the most offensive and utterly insulting hit-pieces I’ve ever seen earlier this week, about our new manager Wilfried Nancy will still be allowed their usual, unfettered access to all matchday media events.
Likewise for The Scottish S*n who basically made it their mission to undermine and embarrass Brendan Rodgers in the final months of his second stint as Celtic manager (with the willing aid of someone high up in the club), will be given free reign.
Celtic should have followed the example of the good people of Liverpool, and banned this utter disgrace to journalism decades ago.
It’s one thing to ban fan media from the men’s game. Ultimately, as much of a PR disaster as it is for the club, it is their right to do so if they wish. Media access is a privilege, not a given.
However, as much as I have tried my best to always be a supportive and unashamedly outspoken advocate for Celtic Women and for Women’s Football in general, the reality is, our women’s team do not get anywhere near the level of attendance at matches that their amazing performances over the past few years deserve.
Frankly speaking, Celtic Women need all the help they can get in terms of promotion of positive publicity. Instead, the Celtic Board have opted to drag them into an argument that, ultimately, had nothing to do with the Women’s team. Attendances will no doubt suffer, as the lack of coverage dampens the already waning enthusiasm among Celtic supporters for the Ghirls in Green further still.
Honestly, at this point, I’m practically waiting for a Scooby Doo moment where either Peter Lawwell or Michael Nicholson tear off their masks and reveal they were actually Barry Ferguson and Ally McCoist all along.
Ultimately, I do not know whether the Celtic Board’s current opposition to fan media is down to incompetence, a total inability to “read the room” or if it’s something more malicious.
In all honesty, it doesn’t really matter either way. The Board should be taking steps to repair broken relationships with fan groups, not alienate them further.
That will take time, and effort. Or as Okinawa’s favorite son once said: “First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature’s rule, Daniel-san, not mine.”